what is the difference between meiosis and mitosis?

Question

I understand that they are two different types of cell division, but how are they different? 

Answer 1

Dear Sydney,

 

You are right, meiosis and mitosis divide cells, however, they are different. I am pointing the major differences:

 

Mitosis divides a cell in two daughter cells, both daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the original mother/parent cell.

 

Meiosis divides a cell in four daughter cells, each daughter cell has half the number of chromosomes than what were there in the original mother/parent  cell.

 

Mitosis occurs in the organism through out the lifetime. For instance, if we are hurt  or an animal is hurt and has a wound then cells around the wound area divide and proliferate to heal the wound. The same is true in plants, if a branch is cut then cells around the cut divide and proliferate to generate a stump. The process is consistent through out the life time of an organism.

 

Meiosis is limited to germ cells, the  reproductive cells that produce gametes  of the organism. Germ cells are divided meiotically to form four male gametes (sperms) or female gametes (ova/eggs) that carry half the number of chromosomes than their parent cells. Meiosis occurs in reproductive organs,  such as testis and ovary.

 

Cells produced by mitosis are functional right away after division. In contrast, gametes produced by meiosis have to be fertilized, form a zygote with twice the number of chromosomes and then develop into an embryo (plant or animal).

 

As function of age of the organism, germ cells lose their ability to divide and produce additional gametes. However, somatic cells (rest of the cells of the body of an organism) still can divide as necessary.

 

Hope this is clear and  helps you. If you have questions about my answer, then please post. I shall explain.